FIA to keep Rally de Portugal in championship in 2024, maybe 2025
Contract was sealed with an option for the 2025 season, to be exercised next September, when the FIA's World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) is due to meet.
The place of the Rally de Portugal in next year’s FIA World Rally Championship is secure, with the signing of a contract between the Automobile Club of Portugal, which organises the Portuguese event, and the WRC managing director on Sunday, in a ceremony held in Matosinhos, near Porto.
Carlos Barbosa, the president of the ACP, and Jona Siebel of the WRC, sealed the deal at the Exponor trade fair site, agreeing also on an option for the 2025 season, to be exercised next September, when the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) is due to meet.
“The signing of this contract demonstrates the confidence that the WRC promoter has in the organisation and is recognition of the effort we have made to organise one of the key rallies of the World Championship calendar,” stressed Barbosa of the ACP.
The 56th Rally de Portugal ended on Sunday, after the ‘power stage’ in Fafe.
Finland’s Kalle Rovanperä (of the Toyota Yaris team) now leads the FIA World Rally Championship standings after his winning performance in the Rally de Portugal, which he also won in 2022 before going on to become the youngest world champion ever.
